Gemini AI platform accused of scanning Google Drive files without user permission
Gemini users may want to up their privacy
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Google’s Gemini AI has been accused of scanning PDF files hosted on Google Drive without active permission or initiation, sparking yet another discussion around AI safety and privacy concerns.
Senior Advisor on AI GovernanceKevin Banksontook to X to share concerns over an automatically generated AI summary in a private and confidential tax return.
Bankston’s thread detailed his experience with Gemini AI reading private documents without consent and the subsequent troubles in disabling the functionality on thecloud storageplatform.
Gemini might be more buried in Google Drive than you thought
Despite attempts to disable the feature, Bankston found that Gemini’s continued to operate in Google Drive, raising questions about Google’s handling of user data and privacy settings.
After failing to find the right controls to disable Gemini’s integration, the Advisor asked Google’sChatGPT-rivalling AIchatboton two occasions to pinpoint the settings. A second, more detailed response still brought no joy: “Gemini is not in Apps and services on my dashboard (1st option), and I didn’t have a profile pic in the upper right of the Gemini page (2nd).”
With help from another X user, Bankston found the control, which was already disabled, highlighting either a malfunctioning control or indicating that further settings are hidden elsewhere.
However, previous Google documentation has confirmed that the company will not use Google Workspace data to train or improve its generative AI services or to feed targeted ads.
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Bankston theorizes that his previous participation in Google Workspace Labs might have influenced Gemini’s behavior. The Gemini side panel in Google Drive for PDFs can be closed if a user no longer wishes to access generative AI summaries.
While Google promises to handle user data safely and securely, the case reaffirms the importance of consent and user control as AI continues to advance and becomes more deeply ingrained in the products we use every day.
A Google spokesperson shared withTechRadar Proin an email: “Our generative AI features are designed to give users choice and keep them in control of their data. Using Gemini in Google Workspace requires a user to proactively enable it, and when they do their content is used in a privacy-preserving manner to generate useful responses to their prompts, but is not otherwise stored without permission.”
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With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
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